PeltierKühlkörpern

PeltierKühlkörpern, also known as thermoelectric coolers (TECs) or Peltier modules, are solid-state devices that transfer heat from one side of the module to the other when an electric current is applied. They are based on the Peltier effect, discovered by Jean Charles Athanase Peltier in 1834. The device consists of two dissimilar semiconductor materials, typically n-type and p-type bismuth telluride, connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. When a DC current flows, one junction becomes cold and the other becomes hot.

The cold side absorbs heat from the object to be cooled, and this heat is then dissipated from the hot side, usually by a heat sink and fan. Peltier coolers are compact, have no moving parts (aside from any associated fan), and can provide precise temperature control. They are reversible; reversing the current reverses the direction of heat flow, allowing them to act as heaters.

Applications for PeltierKühlkörpern are diverse and include cooling electronic components like CPUs, laser diodes, and CCD sensors. They are also used in portable refrigerators, medical devices for temperature stabilization, and laboratory equipment. While effective for small-scale cooling, their efficiency can be lower compared to traditional compression-based refrigeration systems, and they require a significant amount of electrical power to operate. Heat dissipation from the hot side is critical for their performance and longevity.